The rise of the micropub is something Sheffield has taken very much in its stride. These compact spaces, often no bigger than the average living room, have been popping up regularly over the last few years and tend to place an emphasis on traditional social interaction – no live sport, wi-fi passwords or quiz machines in sight – while showcasing a high-quality drinks selection from handpicked independent brewers.
Opening in 2016, the Itchy Pig Alehouse is perfectly positioned on the corner of Broomhill’s lively pub scene and promotes a back-to-basics approach that recently saw it crowned Best West Sheffield Pub 2019 by the members of the Sheffield and District Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA). During the judging process, pubs are scored against a specific set of criteria that examines everything from décor and cleanliness to community focus and atmosphere.
For owner, Ted Finley, the award reflects the popularity of micropub culture amongst beer drinkers in the UK. “I think people appreciate the simplicity of it: good beer, a welcoming atmosphere, the fact that it’s hard to avoid chatting to people in such small spaces. We’re just a friendly little hub with a great mix of locals and casual drinkers, its feels like a small family. But whether someone is a regular or coming in for the first time they’ll be treated the same.”
Originally from Faversham, Kent, Ted moved to Sheffield with his now-wife and started looking for work in his trade as a joiner. However, it a visit to a micropub in his hometown that sowed the seeds for the Itchy Pig. “I remember saying to my dad, ‘You know what? I could do this;’ and he replied, ‘OK, go on then.” Following his return a search for a unit began, eventually settling upon the space formerly occupied by Knowles Emporium gift shop. In a relatively short space of time, Ted had achieved a long-held ambition of getting a foot into the pub trade and relished the steep learning curve.
“I’ve always been a big beer fan, but obviously you quickly become an enthusiast in the line of work. On Monday mornings I’ll sit down with one of my staff members, Rich, we’ll have a coffee and spend a lot of time planning what beers we want to get in. In that respect, running a freehouse can be a bit like being a kid in a candy shop at times!”
Keen to immerse themselves further into the wider community, Itchy Pig run a mobile bar for the Sheffield Eagles Rugby League games at the Olympic Legacy Park and have collaborated with local brewery Exit 33 to create ‘Bitter Eagles’ to put on tap at the matches. “But it’s a lovely trade to be in, people really do help each other out, and I’m really thankful to everyone who’s done that with us so far. Weekends are always busy, but we’ve seen a steady increase during weekdays, too, and hopefully over the summer we can put on a few more tap takeovers and keep getting mixing things up with the stuff we get. We want to keep things interesting.”
You can find Itchy Pig at 495 Glossop Road
theitchypig.co.uk
